Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic cannot stop you getting old, but it might stop you feeling it!

The symptoms of arthritis are commonly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which don’t stop the progression of the disease and have risks associated, but sometimes help to relieve the pain.

However, chiropractic treatment is considered by some people to be more effective in the long run.

It has been suggested that chiropractic can prevent further arthritic development and regular treatment can even prevent osteoarthritic changes occurring in the first place. All we know for sure is that many of our patients say that it helps them feel better and are able to stay more active and take care of themselves better.

There is no real strong evidence that degeneration of your joints cannot be reversed but your chiropractor can help improve muscle and joint function and therefore reduce the symptoms of arthritis.

Along with chiropractic treatment, greater emphasis is now being placed on a controlled and regulated diet to reduce joint inflammation and arthritic pain.

Many elderly patients participate in spinal rehabilitation with specially modified exercise programmes.

Ageing of the Spine

During our lifetime, our spines are required to withstand considerable weight-bearing stresses resulting from activities of daily living.

As a result of these stresses ‘wear and tear’ or degeneration, occurs in all parts of the vertebral column. Degeneration which occurs in the spine as a consequence of daily living is considered part of the normal ageing process.

The intervertebral discs (IVDs) are the first to undergo changes, usually around the age of 40, followed later by the spinal joints and bony vertebra, form the ages of 50-60 onwards. Normal degeneration is usually well-established by the age of 70.

Characteristically, the IVD will lose its ability to absorb fluid as the chemical makeup and internal architecture of the disc changes in response to repetitive stresses.

As a result, the normally resilient disc will become tougher, more fibrous and less able to respond to weight-bearing load. The ageing of the discs puts greater stress on the spinal joints as well as the vertebrae itself.

The overall effect of degenerative changes in the disc, joints and bony vertebrae leads to the characteristic feeling of stiffness and reduced movement of the spine.

Degeneration of your joints cannot be reversed but your chiropractor can help improve how you feel and allow you to live life to the full.